“I see now why you wish to pursue a path of magic,” Astaroth said from directly behind Piper, nearly making her jump out of her skin.

  She spun around and scowled at him. “Would you put a bell around your neck or something?”

  At her words, a slight smile flitted across his face. “Did I startle you?”

  Piper’s scowl only deepened at his words. She knew the jerk had startled her on purpose. That was the problem with floating demons—they could sneak up behind a person without a sound and scare the heck out of them.

  “Do you have no martial training whatsoever?” the bony demon asked, his face tilted in the direction of the demon she had slain.

  “I lived on a farm before coming here,” Piper replied honestly. She didn’t see any reason to lie to Astaroth. “The toughest thing I fought before now was an ooze.”

  “I had believed you were an honored demon,” he said, his brow furrowing. “However, that travesty of a battle shows you possess virtually no skill. Yet, you received a quest from one of the nobles…”

  “I won, didn’t I?” Piper groused, doing her best not to look at her handiwork. The thought of what she’d done to the demon made her stomach twist. In the heat of battle, she’d fought to survive. But she was pretty sure the shadeling’s dying expression would haunt her dreams for weeks to come.

  The looming demon shook his head. “Regardless, I will now bestow your class upon you. Are you prepared?”

  Piper nodded her head, unsure of what would come next.

  Astaroth raised his pale hand, and blue flames wreathed his fingers.

  She listened as the demon spoke a single word that resonated with ancient power, and then pain exploded in her head. It felt like someone was driving a metal spike through her skull, and she dropped to her knees, clawing at her face. The agony felt unbearable as infernal knowledge flooded into her mind.

  Then the visions began.

  She watched as a shadeling demon infiltrated a demonic fortress, her form constantly changing, and her illusions cloaking her from patrolling guards. Those few she couldn’t slip past, she casually dispatched with her barbed tail.

  Before long, the demoness made her way to a cavernous throne room. The pillars had been constructed of monstrous bones from some mysterious creature, and numerous demon head trophies hung on the walls.

  An entire phalanx of armored demons greeted the shadeling, each one looking like more than a match for the diminutive female. Yet their ranks broke as she cast a spell sending nightmarish visions and maddening whispers eddying around them.

  One by one, the guards were driven insane by her magic. Some collapsed to their knees, while others gnashed their teeth like animals or wailed with anguish. A few even turned their weapons on each other, hacking and slashing in a wild frenzy.

  Within seconds, the demoness had turned the throne room into a scene of chaos. But she wasn’t done yet. Her figure blurred as she darted toward the throne.

  At her approach, the hulking demon lord rose to his feet and lifted his hand. Dark magic erupted from his fingertips and leapt toward the shadeling. Stone melted under the assault, and his own guards disappeared in the maelstrom of power.

  Yet somehow she evaded every attack.

  The pain had faded from Piper’s head, and she watched the shadeling with growing awe. Was this something she’d be able to do someday with her class? Returning her attention to the vision, she watched the demon cast another spell, and the remaining guards were transformed into puppets for her will. The armored figures lurched forward, their movements unnatural and jerky, turning on their own lord.

  The demon on the throne continued to call on more and more powerful magic until the pillars of the room shuddered. Each impact sent dust drifting down from the ceiling, and great ragged holes were blasted in the walls. Still, the shadeling advanced, a wicked grin on her face. She was enjoying this battle.

  Then, without warning, the demoness appeared behind the lord and whispered something in his ear. The hulking demon went stiff, his face twisting with horror as her tail curled around him like a snake ready to strike. With a single thrust, she ended his life, the lord collapsing into a pool of his own blood. She then methodically moved through the room, dispatching any surviving guards.

  With that, the vision faded, and Piper received a notification.

  Congratulations! You have learned the class Deceiver.

  Congratulations! You have learned the spell Veil of Lies, Level 1.

  Any who fights against a deceiver quickly learns not to trust their senses. This spell allows you to hide objects and movement within a small area.

  Another notification quickly followed.

  Congratulations! You have learned the spell False Face, Level 1.

  Few know the true face of a deceiver, and one of the most potent spells in their arsenal is the ability to hide their true nature. This spell allows you to alter your face, hair, skin tone, voice, and even race.

  Piper’s heart soared as she read the description for her [False Face] spell. This would finally give her the chance to live a normal life back on the farm. She could even travel into Alderwick without needing Beatrice to hide her beneath layers of illusions. This was going to change everything.

  “So, can I go home now?” she asked hopefully. All she wanted to do was get back to the farm and celebrate.

  “Are you forgetting something?” He raised his brow, his eyeless face contorting.

  “Oh, right!” Piper exclaimed. “My reward.” While she wasn’t big on weapons, a legendary one must be pretty impressive. Maybe she could even protect the farm with it. No more slimes would be hurting Ophelia on her watch.

  “I believe you will be quite happy with my choice,” Astaroth said, giving Piper a creepy smile. “The quest allowed me to tailor the rewards to your needs. Please, follow me.”

  Right now, all she wanted to do was go back home. She was worried about what shape her body was in after two days with no food and water. But she couldn’t pass up a legendary weapon. Even if humans weren’t allowed to carry weapons in the Bloodveil Empire without express permission.

  After a second’s hesitation, she followed Astaroth deeper into the forest. They passed demons that had become trapped in the tree’s roots and were slowly being transformed into plants. Leaves and branches had erupted from their bodies, and she noticed their eyes were still moving—the demons were still alive. She quickly revised her opinion about the trees being harmless and carefully avoided stepping on any of the roots.

  After a few kilometres, they arrived at a towering tree with black bark and leaves that oozed a sticky red substance. The branches were gnarled and twisted, but the trunk is what drew her gaze. Hundreds of demon’s faces had been carved into the bark. At the sight of the tree, a deep sense of foreboding slammed into her like a physical blow, making her stumble back. This tree was impossibly powerful…and evil. Was Astaroth leading her into a trap?

  Piper glanced over at her guide, but he seemed unperturbed. In fact, he didn’t even flinch when the tree twisted a few of its branches in his direction. He stopped a short distance away and had a conversation too low for her to hear.

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  A second later, intense power began to build up within the tree. She watched nervously, preparing to flee at the first sign the tree was going to attack her. She didn’t want to end up as one of the faces on its trunk. Some of them had moved since she’d arrived—almost like they were screaming.

  The power continued to build until the bark split open and ominous red light poured out. From within the tree, what looked like a tree branch appeared. It was curved slightly, with the face of a demon in the middle of it. Was that a staff?

  Astaroth floated forward and took the weapon with his slender fingers. As he tugged it free, sap the color of blood gushed out from the opening. Then the bark sealed itself shut with a sickening squelching sound, followed by the faces on the bark bellowing with the voices of the damned.

  Piper covered her ears as the screaming grew louder, and the weapon glowed with an eerie red light. Then the noise cut out, and Astaroth floated over to her holding the weapon. As he drew closer, she uncovered her ears and held them a short distance away from her head. She wanted to be ready in case the tree started shrieking again.

  “I have crafted the promised weapon for you.” He held it out for her to take. “I believe it is the perfect choice for one such as yourself.”

  Reaching out with her hand, she flinched as the face on the bow opened its mouth, its eyes snapping over in her direction. This thing was horrifying. And legendary or not, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to take it. But she couldn’t turn down such a powerful weapon, and she took a deep breath before grabbing hold of it.

  Astaroth floated back a step. “In order to bind it to yourself, you must channel your mana into the weapon.”

  Piper pressed her lips together in response to the instructions. How the heck was she supposed to channel mana into something? She’d barely had mana for more than a few days.

  After a few false starts, she finally managed to send a trickle of mana into the weapon.

  Bind Gorebark, Longbow of Ruin, Level 1, to your soul? (Yes/No?)

  After another deep breath, she selected yes. Immediately, more writing sprang up in her vision.

  Gorebark, Longbow of Ruin, Level 1, has been bound to your soul.

  “This thing is so creepy,” she said, watching as the eyes on the weapon fixated on her. “Why does it say that’s level 1?”

  “It is a magical weapon,” Astaroth said. “One capable of growing with you.”

  “Oh.”

  Her brow furrowed as she inspected the bow. Why did it have the face of a demon in the center of it? Was it a real demon or just an ornament? Based on this place, she was willing to bet an actual demon was trapped in her new bow.

  “I have something else for you,” Astaroth said, reaching beneath his robes. A moment later, his hand reappeared holding a quiver.

  “Is that an ear?!” she squeaked, staring in horror at the quiver. The leather on one side clearly resembled a human face, and even had what looked like a fully intact ear sticking out to the side. “There’s no way I’m taking that thing.”

  “I would strongly recommend that you take this with you back to your world,” Astaroth said without emotion. “This allows you to convert mana into new arrows for your bow.”

  “How am I going to explain an ear on my quiver?” Piper said, her voice rising slightly. “People are going to ask questions. Like, did you make that out of a person? Or are you a crazy serial killer?”

  “Are people truly so squeamish in your world?” Astaroth asked. “However, did you not just receive a class that has the ability to hide items behind illusions?”

  “Oh, right.” Her face flushed at his words. She felt stupid for overlooking such a simple solution to the problem. But even though she could probably make her bow and quiver look less evil, they still creeped her out. “Wait… why did you give me a bow?”

  “After watching your miserable performance against the shadeling demon, I decided to gift you a weapon that would keep you as far away from combat as possible.”

  “Gee thanks,” she said, her words dripping with sarcasm. “I didn’t do that badly.”

  “I’ve seen blind imps fight better than you.”

  Piper sighed at his words but didn’t respond. She was too tired to argue with a floating skeleton. She stalked forward and snatched the quiver from his hand and stuffed it under her arm. In her other hand, she held onto the bow.

  “Can I go home now?”

  “As you wish,” Astaroth said. “Should by some miracle you survive to level 50, I will guide you deeper into the depths of infernal knowledge.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  Astaroth began to wave his arms, and dark lines of magic formed in the air in front of him. With each movement of his hands, more of the world seemed to rupture and then began to fracture. The lines expanded, forming rifts and sending purple light cascading over Piper.

  She raised her arm to shield herself from the gale-force wind that sprang up. It felt like she was standing in front of a growing hurricane. The magic stitched together into an eldritch pattern, and she was sucked through a spinning portal.

  For a split second, she was in total darkness before her soul slammed back into her body. She sucked in a ragged breath as her eyes snapped open. A fire glowed nearby, and she heard the soft patter of rain on the thatch roof above.

  A terrible weakness washed over Piper as she realized that she couldn’t even lift her arms. She glanced around the room and spotted Ethel rushing over to her side. In her hands, the woman clutched a clay pitcher and a wooden cup.

  “Thank Infernus.” Ethel’s face was pale and she had dark circles under her eyes. “I was afraid we’d lost you to the Fire Realm.” She poured clear water into the cup before lifting it to Piper’s lips.

  The cold liquid that cascaded into her mouth was the most delicious thing she’d ever tasted in her life. She quickly gulped down the first cup and then the next one that was offered. Only after four cups did she finally feel some of her strength returning.

  “Thank you,” Piper said, her voice raspy. “How long was I gone?”

  “Almost three days,” Ethel said, her face tight. The woman looked exhausted and had probably been holding a vigil over her during that entire time. “But all that matters now is that you’re home.”

  Piper flopped back down and stared up at the roof as she smiled. It was good to be home.

  Astaroth stood for a long time in the forest after the human wearing a demon’s skin had departed. He sensed a prince approaching, and he didn’t dare show any sign of disobedience. There was a reason he’d survived for millennia in this place when so many others hadn’t.

  One second, he was standing alone among the trees, and the next a prince appeared in front of him seemingly from nothing. He immediately recognized the demon as Malkazar.

  Unlike some of the more powerful demons in the realm, the prince stood barely half his height. He wore a wide brim hat and long black flowing robes. His physique wasn’t particularly impressive for a demon. Yet the power emanating from the prince was staggering. With a snap of his fingers, the noble could erase Astaroth from existence.

  “My liege,” Astaroth said, with a deep bow. “To what do I owe the honor of your presence?”

  Malkazar grinned before walking over to the fallen shadeling. He probed her corpse with the toe of his boot and chuckled. “It’s not often a human defeats a shadeling. Someone is going to be a powerful infernal caster someday.”

  “Indeed.”

  “Now, I know you felt Elaraxa stirring,” Malkazar said, walking back over to Astaroth. “I don’t suppose you know why?”

  “I have no clue,” Astaroth said truthfully. “She was slain during the Thronefall.”

  “Come on now, skinny,” Malkazar said. “You know as well as anyone that she’s not completely dead. And when she starts moving around, it makes me wonder why. The veil is weakening by the day, and we have plans for the Mortal Realm. I don’t want Old Scaly waking up to ruin those plans. You don’t want that either, do you?”

  “Certainly not.”

  Malkazar reached up to poke Astaroth in the chest. “I’ll ask again, is there anything you want to tell me? Maybe something that slipped your mind? Anything at all that may have made old Elaraxa roll over?”

  “There was nothing unusual about my encounter with the girl,” Astaroth said. “Aside from the quest and the weapon.”

  The grin briefly faded from Malkazar’s face. “What quest?”

  Astaroth shrugged. “I had assumed it came from one of the nobles.”

  “None of us gave the quest to you.”

  “If that is the case, then I have no idea where it originated.”

  Malkazar frowned. “You said something about a weapon?”

  “Nharldriss provided a legendary weapon.”

  “Are you kidding? A legendary weapon?” Malkazar marched over to the tree and thudded his fist against the bark. “You won’t give me a weapon but you create one for a human? I should destroy you for that.”

  An immense power welled up within the tree, making Astaroth glide back a step. Nharldriss, the Ever Hungering was linked to every forest in the realm. Its power dwarfed even those of the nobles. If Malkazar meant to fight the tree, then Astaroth wanted to be as far away from here as possible.

  “Relax, you stupid tree,” Malkazar said casually. “Someday you’ll come over to our side and stop pining for your dead dragon.” He walked back over to Astaroth and elbowed his thigh. “Get it? Pining? Like a tree?”

  “Most humorous, my liege.”

  “Anyway, what kind of weapon was it?”

  “A legendary bow.”

  “Of course it was my favorite type of weapon.” Malkazar’s face briefly twisted with anger before he sighed. “Was there anything else strange about the girl?

  “If anything, it was a shock she survived. Her skills were…lacking.”

  “Yet she killed a shadeling,” the prince pointed out. “As I said, not an easy task.”

  “The only truly unusual thing was the fact that a human had appeared here. As you know, such a thing is exceedingly rare. "

  Malkazar grinned. “You’d better get used to it. A lot more are coming soon. We’re returning to the mortal world, skinny. People are going to learn to fear demons again.”

  “How fascinating.”

  “If you play your cards right, you might even earn a domain there.”

  “I am quite happy with my current position.”

  “If you think of anything else to tell me about that girl of yours, you know where to find me.” Before the last word had even left Malkazar’s mouth, the prince disappeared.

  Astaroth exhaled and folded his hands. During the reign of their goddess, Elaraxa, she would never have permitted such upstart demons to lead the realm. Her death had changed the realm irrevocably for the worse.

  And yet, she had stirred for the first time in thousands of years. What did that portend? Moreover, if the princes hadn’t sent the quest for Piper, then who had? He had many questions with few answers. All he could do now was prepare to guide more humans on their path to infernal knowledge. It was a thankless task, but he wouldn’t trade it for any other.